Hey, guitar lovers! In this blog post, I’m going to talk about five different types of modulation effect that guitarists use to spice up their sound. Modulation effects are those that alter the pitch, phase, or amplitude of the original signal in some way. They can create subtle or dramatic changes in the tone, depending on how you set them up. Here are some of the most common modulation effects and how they work:
1. Chorus
This effect creates a lush, shimmering sound by adding a slightly delayed and detuned copy of the original signal to the mix. It can make your guitar sound like a choir of voices or a 12-string guitar. Some famous chorus pedals are the Boss CE-2 and the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone. Some players who use chorus are Andy Summers of The Police, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, and John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers.
2. Flanger
This effect creates a sweeping, jet-like sound by adding a delayed and modulated copy of the original signal to the mix. The delay time is constantly changing, creating a comb filter effect that produces peaks and notches in the frequency spectrum. Some famous flanger pedals are the MXR Flanger and the Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress. Some players who use flanger are Eddie Van Halen, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine.
3. Phaser
This effect creates a swirling, psychedelic sound by adding a phase-shifted copy of the original signal to the mix. The phase shift is constantly changing, creating a comb filter effect that produces peaks and notches in the frequency spectrum. However, unlike flanger, phaser does not use feedback, so it sounds smoother and less metallic. Some famous phaser pedals are the MXR Phase 90 and the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone. Some players who use phaser are Jimi Hendrix, Brian May of Queen, and Eddie Van Halen.
4. Tremolo
This effect creates a pulsing, rhythmic sound by modulating the amplitude or volume of the original signal. It can create a subtle or intense effect, depending on the speed and depth of the modulation. Some famous tremolo pedals are the Boss TR-2 and the Fulltone Supa-Trem. Some players who use tremolo are Johnny Marr of The Smiths, John Lennon of The Beatles, and Jack White of The White Stripes.
5. Vibrato
This effect creates a wobbly, pitch-bending sound by modulating the pitch or frequency of the original signal. It can create a natural or artificial effect, depending on the speed and depth of the modulation. Some famous vibrato pedals are the Boss VB-2 and the TC Electronic Shaker. Some players who use vibrato are Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, David Gilmour.
So there you have it, five different types of modulation effect that guitarists use to create amazing sounds. Which one is your favorite? Do you have any other modulation effects that you like to use? Let me know in the comments below!
Also published on Medium.
